Indicator for cross-word puzzle games



Sept. 22, 1936.

H. F. SCOFIELD INDICATOR FOR CROSS-WORD PUZZLE GAMES Filed Dec. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

m MA/If ATTORNEY Sept. 22, 1936. H. F. SCOFIELD INDICATOR FOR CROSS-WORD PUZZLE GAMES Filed Dec. 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5% A %w ATTORNEY Ii. will I--- :11: ill I- II Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UINITED PATENT OFFICE 1 2,055,160 r INDICATOR FOR (moss-worm PUZZLE GAMES I Herbert F. Scoiield, New York, N. Y. Application Decemberlsl, i934, SerialNo. 75 ,254

- I j 5 Claims. (01. 35-35) My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and thesamehas for its object to provide, a simple, eflicient,.and inexpensive apparatus for ascertaining or determining the cor- 5 rectness of answers to words of [a cross-word puzzle, or the correctness of any letter in a given word of a cross-word puzzle without disclosing the remainder of the answering words or of any of the-remaining lettersof isuch answering words.

Further, said invention'h'as for its object to provide an apparatus adapted to receive a card bearing the complete solution ,to a cross-word puzzle, and by means of which it becomes possible to expose a single letter of any word ape pearing on said cardwithout revealing any'of the other letters of the same word or of any of the other words appearing on the solution card.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus for use in connection with the solving of cross-word puzzles whereby, when the puzzles are being. worked by two individuals or players in competition, and one of theiplayers challenges the. play of the other, the correct letter or'word may be ascertained by reference to a solution card withoutdisclosing or uncovering any of the other letters or words of the crossword puzzle. I 1 Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatusto be used in connection with cross-word puzzle, apparatus as shown in my copending application filed December 19,

1934, Serial No. 758,253. 7

Other objectsvwill'in part be obvious and in part be pointed out. hereinafter,

To the attainment of.,the aforesaid objects and ends my invention consists in the novel features of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts hereinafter 40 more fully described and then, pointed out in the claims. t

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a faceview showinglone formof apparatus constructed according to and embody- 45 ing my said invention; 1

Fig.2 is a sectional view onthe line,2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 15a view similar to Figjl withthe cover or topvplate ottlie "apparatuspartly broken away 50 to show theinteriorconstruction;

Fig. i is a-gdetail face view of the indicating device ortmarker; l Fig. 5 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 6 is ajaceview-of a"*solution card; 5 7 i Reeew l r t n a modifi ation;

Fig. 8 is a view similarto Fig. 7 with the top plate or cover partly broken away to show the interior construction, and i Fig 9 is a detailfaceview of the indicating device or marker used in connection with the 5 modified construction. 1

In said drawings l0 designates a -relatively thin flat supportof rectangular form preferably made of, cardboard, wood or other suitable material and provided with a cover Ill having a 10 rectangular central opening IU The support I0 is provided with a shallow-recessed portion ll whose edges terminate a short distance inwardlyoftheseveral edges of the'support ID. The support It] is further provided at. its lower central portion with a vertical slot l2 which extends upwardly from its lower edge and terminates just above the center .of the support. The entrance end of saidslot l2 isprovided with a cut-out portion I2 Within the recess II is disposed a transversely or horizontally movable member l4 -formed. of cardboard or other suitable relatively thin material. The said member I4 is provided with a centrally-located vertical recess l5 within which works a slide 16 having its; opposite vertical edges provided with recesses l1, and a relatively long, vertical base portion l8. -'Ifh erecess es I! engage with and work upon the vertical .edges of the vertical recess [5. The slide I 6 is pro- 30 vided with a sight aperture [9 which corresponds in size and shape with one of the squares of the solution card I 3. The said sight aperture I9 is normally concealedbeneath a hinged cover 20. The slide l6 is'further provided with horizontal indicating arrow 2!, andgage marks 22 to indicate when the sight aperture l9 registers with any one of the down scale numerals on the movable member [4 which numerals correspond tolthe nine horizontal rows of squares on the solution card 13. A'vertical arrow 23 and gage marks, 24 are also provided upon the slide It to indicate when the sight aperture I9 regis ters with any one of the numerals of the across? scaleon the cover or top plate ll arranged adjacent to the lower edge of therecess l5..

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the operator desires, for example, to ascertain what letter appears in the fifth square of the fifth. horizontalrow of the'solutioncard he first movesrthe horizontally-movable. member l4 to-the right or left as the circumstanceslmay require, until thearrow 23 and the gage-marks 24 are brought into register with the numeral adjacent to the lower edge of the recess l5. He

thereupon moves the slide I6 up or down, as the be the. fifth square of the fifth horizontal row; 3

i i. e., the two coincide. This is only truein a case where the square happens *to be"- in the exact, center of the solution card, in other instances the squares will not coincide. 1, a

In the modification illustrated at Figs. 7,. 8 and arrangedcentrally'of said support and extending from the lower edge thereof to apoint near the center of the support. 'The said slot is designed to removably receive asolution card 33; Within the recess3 l isfdisposed a fiat movable member" 34 adapted for horizontal -mov'ment within the recess 3!. The support is provided with a cover plate30 having a central rectangul'a-r recess-30 The movable member '34 is provided centrally with a vertical recess 35- having a length equal to the number, in the present instance nine, of horizontal rows of squares, on the solution card 33, and a width equal to one-of said squares, and at one side of said recess 35, and parallel therewith is secured a down scale 36 having-nine divisions marked thereon numbered from I to 9 inclusive, and corresponding with the-numberof horizontal rows of squares on saidseliitioncard. e r

Upon the movable member 34- are secured in spaced relation a pair of guides 31 ,3! in which works 'a-vertically inovable rack bar 33- having an arrowhead pointer 39; at its upper end traveling overthe across scale 40 provided with nine divisions; numbered 1to- 9, inclusive, correspending-with the number of} vertical columnsof squares on'said solution'card33. The-pointer bar 38 isprovided'with a finger portion'4 I for actuating the same, which-finger portion also serves as a stop, and at on e side-between the guides 31, 3'! saidpointerbar-is provided with a rack portion 42 adaptedte engage with a tooth or stud 43-on a horizontally-movable slide 44" working-in guides 45 secured to-the vertically slidable member 46 working in said guides 3T, 31?; The slide 44 is provided intermedlatefits ends with a sight opening4=l which corresponds in size and" shape With one "fsquare" of 1 the solution card" 33. The slide 44- is-provided at one end withan arrow-head pointer '48 traveling over a down" scale 36-carried on the movableinemb'er 34, and adjacent to I its oppositeend saidslideis provided withafinger portion 'for actuating said slide to" interlock the tooth or-stud 43 thereon with the appropriate recess or notch in the rack portion-42'. The finger portionqfifl alsoserves as astop to limit undue outwardmovementofsaid -slide 44.'- l The operation Eif the foregoing construction is as rene s: 1 g solution card 33 is first properly placed in thin the slot'32" o'f" support 30', and if d'to know} for' example; what letter the fourth squareiofthe sixth vertical of said "card; it merely becomes necessary to, move the horizontally'slidablemember 34 to the amen-1* as 'ciicumstances'may re'qu'i re until the pointer 39 registers with the numeral 6 of the across scale, which number corresponds to the sixth vertical column of squares on the solution card. Hereupon the movable member 46 is shifted upwardly or downwardly, as the circumstances may require, until the pointer 48 registers with the numeral 4 of the down scale, which numeral corresponds to the fourth horizontal column; of the solution card and then interlock, the stud 43 with the appropriate notch of the rack portion 42. When this has been done the letter will appear in the sight opening of the slide 41,, and alltthe remaining squares of the member 46.

. I' 'Havingthusdescribed my said invention, what 7 I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

9, 3!] denotes a substantially flat support -having a shallow central recess 3|, and a vertical slot 32- 1". 'Ad'evice of thecharacter described comprisvertical, and horizontal rows of characters or devices thereon, a horizontally movable member havingian opening therein registering with the vertical columns on-said card, indicating means associated=with said horizontally movable member for" indicating the vertical columns of said card; a vertically movable member upon said, first named member over the opening therein, said second named memberhaving a sight opening therein registering'with the opening in saidhori- 'zontally movable member for exposing any portion of any of said vertical colunms, and'means associated; witlrsaidyvertically movable member for indicating the horizontal'columns of said card and the particular character or device of any vertical column exposed tovi'ew through said last named: opening; V V

2: A device of the character described-compris inga support adapted to receive. a card having vertical and horizontal-rows of characters or devices thereon, a horizontally movable member having an; opening therein registering with the verticalcolumns on'said card and coextensive in length therewith, means for said horizontallymovable member carried by, said support for indicating the vertical columns of said card, a vertically-movable-member carried by said first named member and disposed over the opening therein, said second namedmembernormallyconcealing said card and having an opening therein registering with the opening in said horizontallymovable member for exposing any portion of any of' said. vertical columns, and; means associated with said vertically-movable memberfor indicating the horizontal columns of said card and the particular, character, or device of any vertical column exposed" to view through said last named opening.v I

3. A device of the character described comprising. a support having a card-receiving, recess therein, a card disposed in said recess having vertical and horizontal rowsoi characters or devices thereon, a horizontally-movable member having a vertical opening" therein registering with the vertical columns on'said cardand coextensive in length therewith, indicating means for said" horizontally-movable member carried by said support including a scale having divisions thereon corresponding to the number of verticalcolumns on said card, avertically-movable member carried by said horizontally-movable member having an opening therein registering with the opening in said horizontally-movable member for exposing any portion of any of said conceal-the remaining characters onsaid' card,

and indicating means including a scale having divisions thereon corresponding to the number of horizontal rows on said card for indicating the particular character or device in any vertical column exposed to view through said last named opening.

4. A device of the character described comprising a support having a card-receiving recess therein, a card disposed in said recess having vertical and horizontal rows of characters or devices thereon, a horizontally-movable member having a vertical opening therein registering with the vertical columns on said card, means for guiding said horizontally-movable member on said support, indicating means for said horizontally-movable member carried by said support including a scale having divisions thereon corresponding to the number of vertical columns on said card, a vertically-movable member carried by said horizontally-movable member having an opening therein, a cover for said opening, said opening registering with the opening in said horizontally-movable member for exposing any portion of any of said vertical columns, means for guiding said vertically-movable member on said horizontally-movable member, indicating means including a scale having divisions thereon corresponding to the number of horizontal rows on said card for indicating the particular character or device of any vertical column exposed to view through said last named opening, and gage marks on said vertically-movable member registering with the divisions on said scales.

5. A device of the character described comprising a support having a card-receiving recess therein, a card disposed in said recess having vertical and horizontal rows of characters or devices thereon, a horizontally-movable member having a vertical opening therein registering with the vertical columns on said card, indicating means for said horizontally-movable member carried by said support including a scale having divisions thereon corresponding to the number of vertical columns on said card, vertical guides on said horizontally-movable ,member, a vertically-movable member working in said guides having an opening therein registering with the opening in said horizontally-movable member, horizontal guides between said vertical guides, a slide working in said horizontal guides having an opening therein for exposing any portion of any of said vertical columns, indicating means including a scale carried by said horizontally-movable member having divisions thereon corresponding to the number of horizontal rows on said card for indicating the particular character or device of any vertical column exposed to view through said last named opening, a rack member secured in said vertical guides, a pointer on said rack bar cooperating with the scale on said support, a stud on said slide engageable with said rack bar to hold said slide to adjusted position, and a pointer on said slide cooperating with the scale on said horizontally-movable member.

6. A device of the character described comprising a support having a card-receiving recess therein, a card disposed in said recess having vertical and horizontal columns of characters or devices thereon, a horizontally-movable member having a vertical opening therein registering with the vertical columns on said card, indicating means for said horizontally movable member carried by said support including a scale having divisions thereon corresponding to the number of vertical columns on said card, vertical guides on said horizontally-movable member, a vertically-movable member working in said guides having an opening therein registering with the opening in said horizontally-movable member, horizontal guides between said vertical guides, a slide working in said horizontal guides, means moving said slide, said slide having an opening therein for exposing any portion of any of said vertical columns, indicating means including a scale carried by said horizontally-movable member having divisions thereon corresponding to the number of horizontal columns on said card for indicating the particular character or device of any vertical column exposed to view through said last named opening, a rack member Working in said vertical guides, means for adjusting said rack bar, a pointer cooperating with the scale on said support, a stud on said slide engageable with said rack bar to hold said slide to adjusted position, and a pointer on said slide cooperating with the scale on said horizontally-movable member.

7. A device of the character described comprising a support adapted to receive a card having characters or devices thereon arranged in intersecting rows, members disposed one above the other for movement transversely relative to each other and normally concealing the characters on said card, one of said members having an opening therein coextensive in length with the rows extending in one direction and the other member having a sight opening therein registering with the first mentioned opening and having an area limited to expose characters at intersections of the rows, and means associated with said members for indicating the rows in numerical order and the positions of said members relative thereto in order to expose through said sight opening the character at the intersection of the rows selected by adjustment of said members.

8. A device of the character described comprising a support adapted to receive a card having characters or devices thereon arranged in intersecting rows, members disposed one above the other for movement transversely relative to each other and normally concealing the characters on said card, one of said members having an opening therein coextensive in length with the rows extending in one direction and the other member having a sight opening therein registering with the first mentioned opening and having an area limited to expose characters at intersections of the rows, means for normally closing said sight opening, and means associated with said members for indicating the rows in numerical order and the positions of said members relative thereto in order to expose through said sight opening the character at the intersection of the rows selected by adjustment of said members.

HERBERT F. SCOFIELD. 

